Bishops attack £500-a-week cap in welfare Bill

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The Archbishop of Canterbury reportedly backs the letterCarl Court/AFP/Getty Images

Last updated at 8:43AM, November 20 2011

Eighteen Church of England bishops have criticised the Government’s welfare
reforms.

In a letter to a Sunday newspaper, they wrote that they felt “compelled to
speak for children” in response to a planned £500-a-week benefits cap for
families as part of the Welfare Reform Bill.

The bishops are concerned that the policy will leave children facing “severe
poverty and potentially homelessness”.

They are supporting a series of amendments to the Bill - set to be debated in
the House of Lords tomorrow - which have been tabled by the Bishop of Leeds
and Ripon, John Packer and drawn up with the help